5 HOLY WEEK 2014: SEVEN BEAUTIFUL CHURCHES IN METRO MANILA FOR VISITA IGLESIA

Last year I made a promise during my first ever Visita Iglesia that I’m gonna do it year after year. And exactly one year yesterday I accomplished the vow and hopefully it would endure for the rest of my life. Highlights of last year’s churches visitation was only Makati area so this time I have decided to cross the border. Seven Churches in Seven Metro Manila Cities.

Right after my shift (I work graveyard) I went straight to my first stop. Packed with just faith and dedication I know myself I will be able to complete this kinda penance. I know it would be stiffer since I get off from work so I’m lack of sleep then will be walking and traveling under the scorching sun. But I have no worries at all, God will be there. So please join my trip as we go starting from the far south going far north of Metro Manila.

First Church – Muntinlupa City.

St. Jerome Emiliana & Sta. Susana Parish. This church is located in Commerce Avenue Ayala Alabang. It is situated at the right side of Alabang Town Center Mall. I spent my high school years in downtown Alabang – heart of Muntinlupa City so I remember I attended mass here once with my older sister. Unfortunately renovation is ongoing so I had no chance to pray inside so I decided to just pray right in front of the closed door and standing.

How to get here? Starting from Magallanes, I took bus going to Alabang, from Alabang take jeep going to Baclaran or SM Southmall. Jeeps will pass by Alabang – Zapote Road and ask the driver to drop you off at the Ayala Town Center Mall. There you can ask vendors where the church is, it is only few steps away from the highway.

St. Jerome Emiliana & Sta. Susana Parish

Second Church – Las Piñas City.

St. Joseph Church. This church is better known as The Las Piñas Bamboo Organ. This has been the city’s popular tourist destination for locals and foreign visitors. This organ is still working until this modern time schemed by a skilled organist. When I started traveling and blogging this church is one of the places that I’m eager to visit and today would be the perfect time to make it possible. I remembered that I am only looking at this in elementary textbooks and now I’m really pleased that it is right before my eyes.

How to get here? Starting from Alabang, you can ride jeep with a route sign going to Baclaran-Tambo. Then you can ask the driver to drop you off at the Bamboo Organ Church. If you are coming from Baclaran, take jeep going to SM Southmall and you can also ask driver to drop you off there. In my case, I used my Google Maps because sometimes drivers do forget, Google Maps application shows St. Joseph Academy when you put Bamboo Organ on your search box, so if it’s showing like this don’t worry you are on the right place it is Church and a School.

St. Joseph Church (Bamboo Organ)

Third Church – Parañaque City

The National Shrine of our Mother of Perpetual Help, also known as Redemptorist Church of Baclaran. This church was part of my previous Visita Iglesia but I still want to include it in my list this year. Devotees from different places overflow the church during Wednesday or popularly called Baclaran Day to attend mass and pray the novena of Mother Perpetual Help. When I was in college, I normally go here to pray while I lived in Malabon. You can visit this website for the list of mass schedules.

How to get here? Baclaran Church is accessible wherever you are. If you are coming from North, LRT Line 1 ends in Baclaran which the station is only few meters away from the church. EDSA also ends in Mall of Asia and pretty close from Baclaran Church. If you are coming from South, there are jeeps traveling straight to Baclaran. In my case, Las Piñas is pretty close so I just take jeep straight to Baclaran.

Baclaran Church

Fourth Church – Manila

The Manila Metropolitan Cathedral – Basilica, informally known as Manila Cathedral recently opened the gates for the worshipers coming from two years of massive repairs and restoration. Honestly I’ve been walking around Intramuros but I haven’t gone in this Church yet that’s why I made sure that this will be part of this year’s Visita Iglesia.  I must say very beautiful, shiny marbles and fresh paints, glimmering lights and perfect architecture in and out view. There were plenty of parishioners, local and foreign tourists taking pictures and also praying. And I would say this church has the most number of people from the churches I have visited.

How to get here? In front of Baclaran Church, I take FX (UV Express) bound to Lawton for P25 fare. I asked driver that I will get off near the Manila Cathedral. As soon as I get off I thought it would be couple of minutes of walking but I’m surprised that it only few steps away.

Manila Cathedral

Fifth Church – Caloocan City

Shrine of Our Lady of Grace. I used to go here every Sunday when I was in College. I find this church peace and solemn, I don’t know for some reason it feels like there’s an enigmatic connection between us. When I have my personal prayer, I feel the emotion and just found my eyes went crying. This Church been my watcher my entire life in College, all success and failures, happiness and sadness. That’s why I want this Church be part of my list since I really missed it.

How to get here? Located in Monumento Circle Caloocan, it is also accessible wherever you are. If you take LRT Line1, drop-off at Monumento Station.

Shrine of Our Lady of Grace.

Sixth Church – Malabon City.
Sts. Peter and John Parish. The township of Brgy. Potrero in Malabon. Here where I lived and pretty close to my place, can be reached by foot. SPJ called to become “Fishers of Men”. You can visit this website to check their updates and mass schedules.

How to get here? It is located in Orange Rd., Brgy. Potrero, Malabon. It’s pretty close from Monumento Caloocan. You can ride jeep going to Malinta or Malanday then ask the driver to drop you off at the Potrero Elementary School; across the school is a street with a sign board of the parish. Then you can walk just few meters.

Sts. Peter and John Parish.

Seventh Church – Pasay City.

Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. Traveling from Malabon all the way to Pasay is just too far, no LRT operation and jeep is the only option, good thing Avenida Manila is free from traffic. I was already sleeping during the trip, the moment I close and open my eyes it was different people on my side and in front of me. So I know I am sleeping. Anyways, this Parish is just walk away from Gil Puyat Avenue so I checked my Google Map which church that will complete my seventh heaven. I was actually planning either Guadalupe in Makati or in Pasay. But I’m afraid I’ll be stuck in EDSA due to series of reblocking that causing heavy traffic. That’s why I decided to visit this Parish. No regrets, I love the interior, the flooring and painting are quite refreshing as well as the stained glass.

How to get here? Located in FB Harrison Street in Pasay City. Starting point is LRT Line 1 Gil Puyat Station. From there you can just walk or ride small orange cabs way to MOA then ask the driver to drop you off at the Harrison Street and just cross the other side.

Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.

And once again, I have completed another cherished thing in this world, though I was sunk in the middle of the sizzling sun, hungry and sleepy yet it’s not enough to recompense all my sins. I hope in this little thing it would help reduce all my shortcomings to the Heaven’s King and the people around me. I also hope that He assist me to make this possible year after year after year. #HolyWeek2014!

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Visita Iglesia, also known as Seven Churches Visitation is a kind of Christian practiced to visit seven different churches or religious institutions. Although this can be happened any day in the Holy Week before Easter Sunday but usually during Maundy Thursday.

What to Pray? Please refer to this site, it will teach what to do from First Church to Seven Church. Prayer Guide for Visita Iglesia (For PersonalUse).